OK, I guess, but the state only has 88 cases and 3 deaths so far. I said "mild" shelter in place because it only applies to the elderly and those with health issues, so that leaves a lot of leeway for folks to get out of their house - even though the only stores open are grocery stores and pharmacies.

The "88 cases and 3 deaths" is MOSTLY good news -but it also means WE AREN'T GETTING ENOUGH TEST KITS! It is highly likely that IF we had enough test kits our "88 cases" number would be a lot higher. And FWIW, the first two deaths were men in their 50's. I don't know the age of the third victim.

On a side note - when NJ imposed their lock down they added liquor stores to the "essential business list". Now that's some out of the box thinking right there - but I'm all for it!

Edit: Just saw the latest data - OK has 106 cases. The third death was a 60 year old woman.

Also, a very important caveat to the Governor's edict: it only applies to counties that do not have a reported case yet. And area wise, that's probably half the state. A very smart move IMO - makes a hell of a lot of sense.

My city, Juneau AK, had liquor stores as well. As I listened to the assembly it was chosen because of the number of potential alcohol dependent people who may crash and/or turn to other drugs during a time when the hospital and emergency person will be overrun. Statistically, keeps numbers lower.

Just got a positive test in our small town......

tmaggies said:

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Just got a positive test in our small town......

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And that would be...

NormanAg.... mayor clark is supposed to issue a shelter in place order starting thursday at 5:00. We shut down our office in Norman yesterday for the most part and are working from home and job sites. But this might change the ability to keep job sites running.

Well crap!! Now it is tomorrow at midnight.

https://www.normantranscript.com/news/mayor-breea-clark-issues-stay-at-home-order-for-norman/article_4718439e-6dfb-11ea-9624-c7c9c8abceb5.html

Update: There are 77 counties in OK. Governor Stitt's orders only apply to 19 counties.

Just because people live elsewhere makes them no less Texan and no less an Ag.

Oh. Sorry. I take a lot of crap for living up here if you can't tell. Just a little sensitive. Lol.

@TXaggie 2011. OK, I edited out the political aspects of my post. OK now? I applaud and fully support the managements creating this board and policing it to keep the politics out. I will just say, though that it's often hard for me to separate politics from the "medical' part of the issue. Government (which is political) imposes restrictions on citizens with the objective of keeping as many of them as possible from being exposed to the virus (which is a medical process). Keeping the two at a "social distance" can be tricky - there is a lot of overlap.

Disclaimer: I am NOT complaining that my post was pointed out as being "political" and was more than happy to edit it. But it's not a black and white situation in many cases.

NormanAg said:

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OXOK, I guess, but the state only has 88 cases and 3 deaths so far. I said "mild" shelter in place because it only applies to the elderly and those with health issues, so that leaves a lot of leeway for folks to get out of their house - even though the only stores open are grocery stores and pharmacies.

The "88 cases and 3 deaths" is MOSTLY good news -but it also means WE AREN'T GETTING ENOUGH TEST KITS! It is highly likely that IF we had enough test kits our "88 cases" number would be a lot higher. And FWIW, the first two deaths were men in their 50's. I don't know the age of the third victim.

On a side note - when NJ imposed their lock down they added liquor stores to the "essential business list". Now that's some out of the box thinking right there - but I'm all for it!

Edit: Just saw the latest data - OK has 106 cases. The third death was a 60 year old woman.

Also, a very important caveat to the Governor's edict: it only applies to counties that do not have a reported case yet. And area wise, that's probably half the state. A very smart move IMO - makes a hell of a lot of sense.

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Absolutely not trying to start anything, I just am wondering now that as of yesterday (29) OK had 429 cases and 16 deaths if that gives you enough data to support a more thorough policy to avoid spread? People move from county to county all day. How many of your county's now have cases with this quadrupling in just 5 or 6 days? Also, the death rate is about 3.7% which is very high, idea's why that is? I wonder if people were just not prepared? Hope you and yours are all okay and staying home now to be safe.

... enough data to support a more thorough policy to avoid spread?

A "more thorough policy" HAS been implemented, as was planned from the beginning! If/when and where needed the Governor will take appropriate actions. I still support our Governor's measured approach vs an all encompassing, draconian lock down of the entire state. Our OK economy is taking a double whammy in unemployment because of the huge drop in oil prices and loss of jobs because of the virus.

I suspect that the high death percentage in OK comes from a severe lack of test kits. OK had low numbers from several weeks which meant we weren't a priority for getting test kits. We are JUST NOW getting test kits in adequate numbers.

If it can be done, a city and/or state should attempt to balance the virus problems with the problems inherent in a drastic economic shutdown. (Obviously NYC and New Orleans aren't able to do that at this point.) I believe President Trump and our Governor understand that. There CAN BE a balance between the two polar opposite views, often expressed on this forum, that "the virus is overblown and not a real threat" and "we must shut down as much economic activity as possible to save lives".

NormanAg said:

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OK, I guess, but the state only has 88 cases and 3 deaths so far. I said "mild" shelter in place because it only applies to the elderly and those with health issues, so that leaves a lot of leeway for folks to get out of their house - even though the only stores open are grocery stores and pharmacies.

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In less than a week up to 481 cases, 17 deaths with only 1,634 tested as of yesterday.

https://covidtracking.com/data/

Yes a lot has changed since my SIX DAY OLD POST and so has the way the state is handling it. It's no longer a "mild" shelter in place that applies to people of all ages, not just the elderly, many more non essential businesses are now closed, many more counties are now included, etc. But that six days bought a lot of income for businesses in the rural counties that are just now seeing their FIRST case. It also brought six days of income for many Okies in those counties who don't make much to begin with.

Is there something about my last post (this morning) that you don't understand? I'm taking the middle ground here - much like President Trump and Governor Stitt have been doing.

Striking a balance between imposing severe restrictions on the populace if they are not necessary or destroying our economy - especially small businesses whose employees don't make much money.

Their are many politicians in this country demanding a country wide lock down and imposing severe restrictions on our populace. And those policies will further weaken, and possibly destroy our economy with business failures and 30% unemployment.

Is that what you are suggesting?

I am glad to live in a county that was part of first group to be put on shelter in place in the country. It seems to be effective if I look at the trajectory of Northern California compared to So Cal and other parts of country. But it's only as effective as our weakest link. I also extrapolate that to states, this country will only get ahead of this as quickly as our slowest to adapt states.

Oklahoma may be slow to get tests but I don't think lack of tests has effected your death rate. Tests eventually provide an acknowledgement that someone has the virus but doesn't change the course of treatment one way or another. There as yet is no proven way to treat the virus, just the symptoms. Hope this works out the way you see it going.

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Oklahoma may be slow to get tests but I don't think lack of tests has effected your death rate.

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I don't believe that is correct. As testing goes up, the number of cases go up. But most of those cases are mild and the patient is just sent home to self quarantine and they recover at home. I believe that most people that test positive are NOT hospitalized.

But while the number of positive cases goes up, the number of deaths does not rise that much. The amount of deaths divided by the much larger number of positives after increased testing results in the death rate dropping - hopefully to a number around 1%, which I believe is the "prediction".

I will add that the number of hospitalizations will still be significant and the problem there is the sheer number, all in a very short time span, is overwhelming some hospital systems (mainly in NYC and New Orleans at present) and will continue to do so until "the curve is flattened".

The primary goals of all the restrictions in place is to stop the spread of the virus. It's not to primarily lesson deaths - the primary goal is to flatten out the demand for hospital beds over a longer time span. But yes, there will be fewer deaths because the hospitals will be better able to treat the most serious cases if they have the beds, a healthy medical staff, and are able to replenish their medical supplies on a regular basis.

Thanks! I apologize for misunderstanding your post.

True. I was trying to communicate (poorly done) likely none of those people have been saved with a positive test. But you are correct, assuming deaths don't keep current pace additional tests hopefully will decrease that percentage. If your cases continue to raise, I surely hope Oklahoma adapts more aggressive ways to slow the growth as part of this national chain.

I have no doubt we will. New measures were announced today. I was really looking forward to my dental cleaning in two weeks (j/k) but today the Gov decreed all non-emergency dental procedures will be canceled for the next month.